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- %
- #EF
- #T15,4,SINKING-FUNDS & INSTALLMENT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
- #C3,R4
- ~C~IA sinking-fund is simply a savings account into which equal periodic payments
- are made.~N
- #D2
-
- Banks, credit unions and other firms offer installment savings plans. In
- these plans, a constant amount is deposited to an account at regular inter-
- vals, and all the money accumulated in the account earns interest according
- to the terms of the account. Usually, such accounts are used to accumulate
- a specific amount of money for some very specific future purpose--college
- expenses, a new car, a house down payment, money for Christmas shopping, etc.
- #D5
-
- The only real ~W~Idifference~N between these and an ordinary savings account is
- in the regularity of the deposit amount and interval.
- #D3
-
- The only real ~W~Iadvantage~N of such an account is also in the regularity -- it
- tends to ensure disciplined saving!
- #D3
-
- The Installment Savings program in THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANT can determine:
- ~z1~b ~C~Ihow much money will be available in the account in the future,~N
-
- ~z2~b ~C~Iwhat regular deposit amount will be required to accumulate a
- specified amount by some specified future date.~N
- #WP
-
- %
- #EW
- #C3,R5
- ~C~ITHE SINKING-FUND METHOD OF RETIRING A DEBT~N
-
- The amortization method of retiring a debt often creates a problem for the
- lender. His principal is returned to him in small amounts at frequent inter-
- vals. It is not always easy to promptly re-invest these small sums.
- #D3
-
-
- Thus, lenders sometimes require that all the principal be returned at the end
- of the loan period, and that only the interest be paid on a regular schedule.
- #D2
-
-
- When money is borrowed under such terms, the lender usually prepares for the
- ultimate repayment of the entire principal amount by establishing a sinking-
- fund. Payments of equal amounts are made into the sinking-fund at regular
- intervals so that the sum of those payments plus the accumulating interest on
- those payments will just equal the total principal of the loan when it be-
- comes due at the end of the loan period.
- #D5
-
- The Sinking-fund module can be used to make either sinking-fund calculations
- or installment savings calculations - they are, after all, identical.
- #WP
- #X